The two teams — comprising 12 of the best male and female junior players from Europe and the US — entered the second day tied at 6-6, before the home side took control, winning all six fourball matches.

Spaniard Rocio Tejedo and Scotland’s Connor Graham overcame American twins Anna and Billy Davis 3&2 in the first match, before Sweden’s Meja Örtengren and Englishman Kris Kim defeated Yana Wilson and Miles Russell by the same score.

Europe extended their lead with German duo Helen Briem and Peer Wernicke securing a 2&1 triumph over Leigh Chien and Nicholas Gross, followed by Italians Francesca Fiorellini and Giovanni Binaghi’s impressive 4&3 victory against Kylie Chong and Jay Leng Jr.

Spain’s Andrea Revuelta and Ukrainian Lev Grinberg overcame Ryleigh Knaub and Jackson Byrd 1-up before Sweden’s Nora Sundberg and Ireland’s Sean Keeling defeated Gianna Clemente and Will Hartman 3&1 to make it a perfect 6-0 for Stephen Gallacher’s team.

“It was awesome,” said Gallacher. “We came out firing and took control of the session from the word go. We took a hit yesterday afternoon and I knew they wanted to bounce back today. The team spirit yesterday evening was terrific and I’m so proud of all of them.

“Every player took control of their own game and they’ve done everything I could have asked of them. They were playing their own ball today which helped them play their own game.

“There are still 12 points left to play for and anything can happen. It’s important not to get complacent and we need to just focus on winning the session.

“I’m having an amazing time as captain. The standard of golf is phenomenal, and I think seven-under par was our lowest score today which is amazing to see. I’m seeing so many good shots that it is inspiring.”

US captain Paul Levy is hoping his team can bounce back tomorrow, with the Americans needing to recover the six-point deficit to retain the trophy.

“I’ve seen a lot of Ryder Cup competitions in my time and today we got beat emphatically,” he said. “They played exceptionally, and we didn’t put the ball in the hole quick enough.

“Tomorrow, we need to win nine of the 12 points to retain the Junior Ryder Cup and we’re going to have to dig deep and see if we can keep that cup.

“My boys and girls have heart. They’re going to go out there and be competitive. I’m hoping something very special can happen at Marco Simone.”

The decisive single matches will begin at 7.30am local time at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, the Ryder Cup venue, on the eve of the 44th edition of the biennial contest between Europe and the United States.

Main image: Junior Ryder Cup

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Hosts Europe and the US are locked on six points apiece after Day 1 of the Junior Ryder Cup at Golf Nazionale in Rome, which included a brilliant fightback from Scotland’s Connor Graham and Ireland’s Sean Keeling

In a change to the previous format, the Junior Ryder Cup will now take place over three days instead of two with Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, the Ryder Cup venue, hosting the decisive singles matches for the first time on Thursday. The final day will also be broadcast live on television.

The three-day tournament, featuring two teams of 12 of the best male and female junior players from Europe and the United States, began this morning in the Italian capital with foursomes — which saw Europe take a 4-2 lead — followed by mixed foursomes in the afternoon.

The best bits from day one at Golf Nazionale ?#JrRyderCup https://t.co/XkfuDrLeIq

— Junior Ryder Cup (@JuniorRyderCup) September 26, 2023

After a strong start from the Americans girls which saw Gianna Clemente and Yana Wilson grab the first point of the day with a 2&1 win over Spaniards Rocio Tejedo and Andrea Revuelta, the European girls fought back with German Helen Briem and Italian Francesca Fiorellini defeating Ryleigh Knaub and Kylie Chong 5&4 to earn Europe’s first point of the tournament.

The US boys pairing of Jay Leng Jr and Billy Davis looked to have secured another point for their team, jumping into a commanding 6-UP lead after nine holes in their match against Graham and Keeling, however the European duo bounced back heroically to tie the match.

In a toe-to-toe match Swedish duo Nora Sundberg and Meja Örtengren were level with Americans Anna Davis and Leigh Chien heading down the last, before the Europeans won the final hole to claim a 1-UP triumph.

Elsewhere Ukrainian Lev Grinberg and Englishman Kris Kim tied with Jackson Byrd and Will Hartman, while German Peer Wernicke and Italian Giovanni Binaghi overcame Miles Russell and Nicholas Gross 1-UP.

“It was a day of two halves,” said European Junior Ryder Cup captain Stephen Gallacher. “The foursome play is always so close and it difficult for the players to find a rhythm. To end the day in a tie is a good and fair result, I felt we edged the morning session, and they were the better team in the afternoon.

“I’m so proud of all of my team, especially Sean and Connor this morning who refused to give in and showed incredible courage to come back from six down at the turn. It was evident that we won the morning session because of their score and the rest of the team fed of that energy.

“We have a great harmony in the group, and I could have paired anyone with anyone. Honours are even and we will try and win the two sessions tomorrow.

“Everyone is playing their own ball tomorrow and they will feel more comfortable with that so I am looking forward to another good day.”

During the afternoon mixed foursome sessions, the Europeans started brightly with a commanding 3&1 victory from Örtengren and Kim over Clemente and Byrd before the Americans mounted an impressive comeback from twins Anna Davis and Billy Davis – who birdied two of their three closing holes to tie with Tejedo and Graham.

Revuelta and Grinberg tied the third match with Chong and Jay Leng Jr, before the Americans sealed three consecutive victories from Wilson and Russell, Chien and Gross, plus Knaub and Hartman which meant the teams will enter the second day level on points.

“The whole day was close throughout and I think to finish six points each is a fair score,” said US Junior Ryder Cup Captain Paul Levy. “A few things went the way of the Europeans in the morning and a few things went our way in the afternoon.

“We showed some great fighting spirit to bring the matches even and we never gave up. We stayed focus, made our putts and we are looking to carry that momentum into tomorrow.”

Wednesday’s fourball matches, featuring all 24 players, begin at 10.45am local time.

Main image: Sean Keeling and Connor Graham. Junior Ryder Cup

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The Scot, a four-time DP World Tour winner, was part of the European team that defeated the United States to retain the Ryder Cup in 2014, winning 16.5 to 11.5 at Gleneagles.

Six boys and six girls will take on the US in Rome from September 26-28 with the first two days of the Junior Ryder Cup being played at Golf Nazionale before the decisive singles matches are held at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, the Ryder Cup venue, on the eve of the 44th edition of the biennial contest between Europe and the United States.

Three boys and three girls will earn a place on the European Junior Ryder Cup team through a season-long ranking system, which has been organised by the European Golf Association, while the remaining six players will be selected by Gallacher.

The Scot set up the Stephen Gallacher Foundation to help and encourage junior golfers in Scotland and he will now lead the European junior team in Rome as he continues to inspire the next generation of golfers.

“I am absolutely delighted to be named Junior European Ryder Cup Captain for 2023,” said Gallacher. “It’s a privilege to be able to lead a team of the best juniors in Europe against America in Rome.

“Playing the final day at Marco Simone will be a fantastic experience for our players who get the opportunity to compete in front of Ryder Cup crowds on the Ryder Cup course for the first time.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to some events during the year and working with the most exciting future talent in Europe.”

Players will earn points for the Rankings based on their finishing position in selected elite amateur events in 2023 and these points will be allocated using the World Amateur Golf Ranking system. The qualification process will end following The R&A Girls’ and Boys’ Amateur Championships on August 20, 2023.

Boys and girls who are citizens of a European country as defined by the International Golf Federation’s Nationality Policy, under 18 years of age on January 1, 2023, and who are not enrolled to play college golf in USA during 2023 are eligible to participate in the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup.

Rory McIlroy and Nicolas Colsaerts both triumphed in the event before also winning The Ryder Cup, while Suzann Pettersen and Carlota Ciganda both succeeded as amateurs before lifting the Solheim Cup.

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Robin “Tiger” Williams is a budding English golf phenom having played in last year’s British Masters on the European Tour as a 16-year-old, the same age Woods made his PGA Tour debut at the 1992 Nissan Los Angeles Open. This week, he went 2-1 in the Junior Ryder Cup as Europe lost by a point to the U.S. But a chat with his idol made his trip to France something he’ll never forget. Check it out:

Today a ? met another ? #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/Rm7FjWgrvm

— Junior Ryder Cup (@JuniorRyderCup) September 26, 2018

As you can see, Williams, who said he was “still a bit shaky” after the encounter with Woods was too nervous to initially tell Tiger about their connection. But once someone else brought it up, Woods perked up.

“C’mon, dude. Is it really?! Good for you.”

According to an interview Williams did with The Telegraph last year, his dad was either going to name him after Tiger Woods or Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. Never was it more clear that Mr. Williams made the right choice than on Wednesday. And now that Woods has returned to his winning ways, if the 17-year-old keeps up his form on the course, there could be more meetings between the two in the future.

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